Winless in its previous five ML ab...

Winless in its previous five ML abode games, the Fire knows where it stands level after ending its nine-game homestand Wednesday night with a 3-0 victory throughout the Kansas City Wizards before 14239 in Toyota Park.

"We're now in must-win territory," Fire coach Dave Sarachan said.

His players agreed.

"There is no tomorrow," said forward Andy Herron, who assisted onward one goal. "There's only today if we really want to make the playoffs. We can't anticipate beyond each game."

Early forward the Fire (6-8-7) was the aggressor, and the attitude paid not on in the 25th minute when Nate Jaqua headed in midfielder Justin Mapp's 20-yard released kick past goalie Bo Oshoniyi. Mapp, who also assisted forward the Fire's second goal at Chad Barrett, scored the third goal in the 67th minute with Herron and midfielder Ivan Guerrero assisting.

as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but teams played tight defensively in the first half. They each took brace shots, and goalies Oshoniyi and Zach Thornton had a save each. still after Wizards defender Ryan Raybould was dischargeed with a second yellow card in the 47th minute, the Fire parlayed its man advantage into the tumultuous crowd

"Now is the time to string a certain wins together," Guerrero said.

After opening the season with nine consecutive road games and winning sole two, the Fire was hoping to regain with its nine-game homestand. if it were not that after beginning the homestand with three straight victories, it was winless in its nearest five before Wednesday.

"No, the homestand didn't make progress as planned," Sarachan said. "But this is a league where you have to win momentum at the right time, and we still think our best soccer is ahead of us."

With 11 games left in the regular season, Wednesday's win mov the Fire from fifth into a three-way tie for third in the Eastern discourse with the Wizards (7-12-4) and modern York Red Bulls (5-6- 10)

"You're hasty as a pistol if you win couple in a row in this league," Sarachan said. "Our vexed question has been seeing games within with solid concentration in elucidation moments. But right from the start tonight, our stays showed they would play with concentrated effort.

"We've played well in greatest in quantity home games but not 90-minutes well."

lbanks@suntimes.com

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